Mobility aid

A mobility aid assembly which may be used for lifting and lowering a user. The assembly includes an articulated lifting arm releasably mounted to a base structure with a first portion of the lifting arm operable between a lowered position and a raised position by a linear actuator. A first end of the linear actuator is pivotally connected to a second portion of the lifting arm with the second end releasably mounted to a second upright portion of the lifting arm. The lower end of the linear actuator disengages from its mounting on the second upright portion when the first portion of the lifting arm is lowered by the actuator to a position in which the first portion of the lifting impinges on the user.

Skip to: Description  ·  Claims  ·  References Cited  · Patent History  ·  Patent History
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a U.S. national phase entry under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Application No. PCT/AU2016/000338, filed on Oct. 4, 2016, which claims priority to Australian Patent Application No. 2015904021, filed on Oct. 2, 2015. Each of these patent applications is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to devices for movement of incapacitated individuals and, more particularly to mobile devices which may transport a user from one location to another.

BACKGROUND

Mobility aids in the form of hoists which allow a carer to lift and lower an incapacitated person, are well known. These devices are particularly used both in hospitals and in domestic situations for transfer of a person from, for example, a wheelchair onto a bed and vice versa.

Hoists range in complexity from a relatively simple frames mounted on castors and fitted with a ram-driven lifting arm, such as for example shown in www.dolphinlifts.co.uk/Suas_Hoists.html, to highly complex motor driven devices such as shown in http://www.activemedicalsupplies.com.au/Products/Multilift550 MotorisedPatientLifter.aspx

While the simpler devices are relatively light weight and may even allow of disassembly for transport, a problem with castor mounted devices is the difficulty of manoeuvring them on any other than a hard smooth surface. Thus, on carpet where the generally small castors sink into the pile, moving the lifter in any direction can be very difficult and, especially when trying to move such a device laterally from a previous straight ahead movement, may even lead to the tipping over of the device.

The highly sophisticated devices such as that of Active Medical Supplies referenced above are very heavy, expensive and really only suitable for hospital or other health establishment use and are clearly not portable.

The rams used to raise and lower the articulated lifting arms of hoists are generally capable of exerting a force of 1300N, both in extension and in retraction. A safety issue arises if the carer is distracted, or there is a malfunction in the switching system during the lowering of a user when the ram is retracting, since the lifting arm may deliver a crushing force to the user's head and shoulders.

Typically hoists are constructed with a forward directed fork extending from a rear cross member and spaced apart sufficient for stability and moving the hoist through doorways. It is a common feature of known hoists to provide for a spreading or splaying of the two members of the fork to allow a wheelchair to move between them so as to bring the user directly under the end of the lifting arm. Splaying of the fork is typically achieved by manually pumping a pneumatic cylinder or manipulating a lever to activate a spreading mechanism. In both arrangements this can be very difficult, particularly so when the hoist is positioned on deep pile carpet.

It is an object of the present invention to address or at least ameliorate some of the above disadvantages or provide a useful alternative.

NOTES

The term “comprising” (and grammatical variations thereof) is used in this specification in the inclusive sense of “having” or “including”, and not in the exclusive sense of “consisting only of”.

The above discussion of the prior art in the Background of the invention, is not an admission that any information discussed therein is citable prior art or part of the common general knowledge of persons skilled in the art in any country.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Accordingly in one broad form of the invention there is provided a mobility aid assembly for lifting and lowering a user; the assembly including an articulated lifting arm releasably mounted to a base structure; a first portion of the lifting arm operable between a lowered position and a raised position by a linear actuator; a first end of the linear actuator pivotally connected to the first portion of the lifting arm and, wherein a second end of the linear actuator is releasably mounted so as to avoid injury to the user if the linear actuator moves the first portion of the lifting arm to an excessively lowered position in which the first portion of the lifting impinges on the user.

Preferably the second end of the linear actuator is provided with a mounting boss; the boss provided with a first connecting element for releasable connection to a complementary second connecting element provided on a second, fixed upright portion of the lifting arm.

Preferably the mounting boss comprises a body provided with a transverse slot; the complementary connecting element comprising a transverse support pin located on the second, fixed upright portion of the lifting arm; the slot slidingly engaging with the transverse support pin when the assembly is in use.

Preferably the mounting boss disengages from the second connecting element when an upward force acting on the first portion of the lifting arm exceeds the combined weight of the first portion of the lifting arm and that of the linear actuator.

Preferably the base structure comprises a hollow body provided at each outer end with a drive wheel; each drive wheel driven by respective electric motor modules located within the hollow body.

Preferably each electric motor module includes a gear train to reduce the RPM of the electric motor to a predetermined RPM of the drive wheel.

Preferably each electric motor is controllable for synchronized rotation of the wheels for forward and rearward movement of the assembly and for contra-rotation of the wheels for rotation of the assembly about a vertical axis.

Preferably the assembly further includes a forwardly directed fork; the fork comprising two fork elements extending from the base structure; each outer end of a fork element provided with a swivelling castor; each castor provided with a locking system for locking the direction of movement of the castor at a desired angle relative to a horizontal centerline of the assembly.

Preferably each of the fork elements is releasably mounted to the base structure; each of the fork elements arranged for rotation about a respective vertical axis at the base structure; each fork element rotatable between a first direction parallel to the centerline of the assembly and a second splayed direction wherein the separation between the outer ends of the fork elements is greater than the separation of the vertical axes at the base structure.

Preferably the fork elements move from the first direction parallel to the centreline to the splayed direction if the castor at each outer end of the fork element is locked at a “toed out” angle relative a centerline of the respective fork element and the assembly is driven in a forward direction; the fork elements returning to the first direction when the assembly is driven in a rearward direction with the castors locked in the “toed out” angle.

Preferably the articulated lifting arm is provided with connector elements at a lower end of the second, fixed upright portion of the lifting arm; the connector elements including tabs provided with forwardly directed slots; the tabs inserted through slots in the upper surface of the support structure for connecting the lifting arm to the base structure; the forwardly directed slots of the connector elements engaging with a transverse pin mounted within the hollow body of the base structure.

Preferably a rear surface at the lower end of the second, fixed upright portion of the lifting arm is provided with a securing plate; the securing plate extending to below a lower edge of the second, fixed upright portion of the lifting arm and provided with apertures for engagement with pins projecting from a rear surface of the support structure.

Preferably one of the projecting pins is provided with an internally threaded hole; the internally threaded hole adapted to receive an externally threaded shaft of a securing knob for locking the lifting arm in position on the base structure.

In a further broad form of the invention there is provided components for assembly into a transportable disability aid; the components comprising a base structure, an articulated lifting arm assembly and two fork elements; the lifting arm assembly including a first portion operable between a raised position and a lowered position; characterized in that a second end of a linear actuator of the lifting arm assembly is adapted for releasable connection to a second, fixed upright portion of the lifting arm assembly so as to avoid injury to a user if the linear actuator moves the first portion of the lifting arm to an excessively lowered position.

Preferably the base structure is provided at each outer end with a driven wheel; each wheel driven by an electric motor module.

Preferably the articulated lifting arm assembly includes the first portion pivotally connected to the second, fixed upright portion and a linear actuator pivotally connected to the first portion of the articulated lifting arm at a first end of the linear actuator.

Preferably the lifting arm assembly the second end of the linear actuator is disconnected from a connecting element located on the second, fixed upright portion of the articulated lifting arm.

Preferably each of the two fork elements is rotatably and releasably mountable to the base structure at inner ends of the fork element; the fork elements rotatable about respective vertical axes between a parallel position and a splayed position wherein separation between outer ends of the fork elements is greater than the separation of the vertical axes.

Preferably the outer end of each fork element is provided with a swivelling castor; each swivelling castor provided with a locking mechanism for locking the direction of the castor at a desired angle.

In a further broad form of the invention there is provided a method of changing disposition of fork elements of a fork of a disability aid assembly from a first position in which the fork elements are parallel to a horizontal centerline of the disability aid assembly and a second position in which outer ends of the fork elements are more widely separated than inner ends of the fork elements; the method including the steps of:

    • providing swivelling castors at the outer ends of the fork elements with locking mechanisms,
    • locking each castor at an angle in which the direction of the castor is “toed out” relative to a centerline of the fork element,
    • moving the disability aid assembly in a forward direction to drive the fork elements from the first position into the second position,
    • moving the disability aid assembly in a rearward direction to drive the fork element from the second position into the first position, and
    • wherein

In yet a further broad form of the invention there is provided a method of avoiding injury to a user of a disability aid assembly if a first articulated portion of a lifting arm of the assembly is lowered by a linear actuator of the assembly to a point at which the first articulated portion is driven into contact with the user by retraction of the linear actuator; the method including the step of providing a lower end the linear actuator with a releasable mounting, and wherein a force acting on the user by an end of the articulated portion of the lifting arm cannot exceed a combined weight of the articulated portion of the lifting arm and the linear actuator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mobility aid assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 2 is a further perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 1 with a lifting arm of the assembly in a lowered position,

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of a crush avoidance system of the assembly,

FIGS. 4 and 4A are perspective views of the assembly showing details of the mounting arrangement of crush avoidance system of FIG. 3,

FIGS. 5 and 5A are a perspective views of the assembly showing a preferred way of mounting the lifting arm to a base structure of the assembly,

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 1 showing a splayed positions of the fork elements of the assembly.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the assembly of FIGS. 1 to 6 indicating the components disassembled for transportation.

FIG. 8 illustrates an electronic block diagram of drive and control circuitry suitable to give effect to operation of the assembly illustrated in FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an alternative wheel structure which can be utilised with the assembly of FIG. 6.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the entire assembly in accordance with a further preferred embodiment.

 DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIG. 1, a mobility aid assembly 10 according to the invention, for lifting and lowering a disabled user (not shown), includes an articulated lifting arm 12 releasably mounted to a base structure 14 and a fork 16 extending from the base structure. A hanger 48 is suspended from the end of the lifting arm for attachment of slings or seating (not shown) for lifting a user.

A first portion 18 of the lifting arm 12 is pivotally attached to a second or fixed, upright portion 20, and is operable between a raised position (as shown in FIG. 1 and a lowered position as shown in FIG. 2 by a linear actuator 22.

Again with reference to FIG. 1, the outer end 24 of the piston rod 26 of the linear actuator 22 is pivotally connected to the first portion 18 of the lifting arm 12, while its lower end 28 of the linear actuator 22, is releasably mounted to the second or fixed, upright portion 20 of the lifting arm 12.

FIGS. 4 and 4A shows a preferred arrangement for the mounting of the lower end 28 of the linear actuator. The second or lower end 28 of the linear actuator 22 is provided with a mounting boss 30 to providing a first connecting element for releasable connection to a complementary second connecting element provided on the second or fixed, upright portion 20 of the lifting arm 12. The mounting boss 30 comprises a body provided with a transverse slot 32 while the complementary connecting element comprises a transverse support pin 34 mounted between side plates 36 and 38 forming the second or fixed, upright portion 20 of the lifting arm. The slot 32 slidingly engages with the transverse support pin 34 (as in FIG. 1) when the assembly 10 is in use for lifting and lowering a user.

The releasable mounting of the second or lower end 28 of the linear actuator 22 provides a novel and inventive crush avoidance safety feature which prevents injury to the user if the linear actuator moves the first portion 18 of the lifting arm to an excessively lowered position as shown in FIG. 3, in which the first portion of the lifting may expose the user 40 to a dangerous crushing force. This may happen for example through inattention by a carer or through a malfunction of the control system.

In this situation in which the linear actuator 22 continues to retract and lower the second portion 18 of the lifting arm 12 when a user 40 is already resting on some support, such as a wheel chair or bed 42 for example, the end 44 of the arm will likely come into contact with the user. However, when the resulting upward force then acting on the end 44 of the first portion 18 of the lifting arm 12 exceeds the combined weight of the first portion 18 and that of the linear actuator 22, the downward force is disengaged by the lower end 28 of the actuator disengaging from its mounting. Thus the force of contact with the user in such a potentially injurious incident cannot exceed the combine weight of these components.

With reference again to FIG. 1, the base structure 14 of the assembly comprises a hollow body 50 provided at each outer end with a drive wheel 52 and 54. Preferably the hollow body is formed of two length of channel section, one forming a base portion 56 and the other a cover portion 58.

Each drive wheel 52 and 54 is driven by a respective electric motor 21 and gear train module (not shown) located within the hollow body 50. Preferably the gear trains are formed as a series of gear wheels and toothed belts to reduce the RPM of the electric motors to a predetermined RPM of the drive wheels. A rechargeable battery bank and electronic control module are also accommodated within the hollow body 50 of the base structure 14. Preferably the assembly's drive wheels and linear actuator are activated via a short range wired or wireless remote control.

The electric motors driving the wheels 52 and 54 are controllable for synchronized rotation of the wheels for forward and rearward movement of the assembly 10. They are also capable of contra-rotating the wheels for rotation of the assembly about a vertical axis. For safety reasons, the contra-rotation of the wheels can only be engaged when the assembly 10 is stationary. To prevent excessive swinging motion being imparted to a suspended user, the electronic control of the electric motors includes soft start and stop functionality.

With reference now to FIGS. 5 and 5A, the articulated lifting arm 12 is mounted at the center of the base structure 14. The second or fixed, upright portion 20 of the lifting arm 12, is provided with connector elements 60 formed at the lower end of the side plates 36 and 38 which include tabs 62 and 64 provided with forwardly directed slots 65. These tabs 62 and 64 are inserted through slots 66,68 in the upper surface of the cover portion 58 of the hollow body of the support structure to allow the forwardly directed slots 65 of the connector elements 62 and 64 to engage with a transverse plate (not shown) mounted within the hollow body.

The rear surface 70 at the lower end of the second or fixed, upright portion 20 of the lifting arm 12 is provided with a securing plate 72, which extends below its lower edge and is provided with apertures 74 for engagement with pins 76 projecting from a rear surface 78 of the support structure 14. The center one of the projecting pins is provided with an externally threaded shaft adapted to receive an internally threaded securing knob 80 for locking the lifting arm in position on the base structure.

In one preferred arrangement, the electric motor of the linear actuator 22, may be provided with an extension mechanism (not shown) by means of which the motor shaft and gear drive of the actuator may be manually rotated. This allows the linear actuator to be urged into extension or retraction in the emergency situation of a power loss in the system.

With reference now again to FIGS. 1 and 6 the fork 16 of the assembly 10 comprises of two fork elements 82 and 84 extending from the base structure 14. Each outer end 86 and 88 of fork elements 82 and 84 is provided with a swiveling castor 90 and 92 respectively, which incorporate a locking system 23 for locking the direction of movement of the castor at a desired angle relative to a longitudinal axis of its respective fork element.

Each of the fork elements 82 and 84 is releasably and pivotally mounted to the base structure 14 and is arranged for rotation about a respective vertical axis 94 and 96, at the underside of the base structure 14. This allows each fork element to be rotatable between a first direction in which each fork element is parallel to the centerline 98 of the assembly (as shown in FIG. 1), and a second splayed direction wherein the separation between the outer ends 86 and 88 of the fork elements is greater than the separation of the vertical axes 94 and 96 at the base structure 14. The degree of movement of the fork elements between the parallel and splayed positions is controlled by stops (not shown) at the base structure 14.

Locking elements 23 provided for each fork element provide for locking the fork elements in either the parallel or splayed position.

To change the fork elements 82 and 84 from the parallel to the splayed position, the locking elements of the fork elements are unlocked. Each castor 90 and 92 is then manually rotated into an outward (or “toed out”) facing direction as shown in FIG. 6, and locked at a suitable angle. The assembly is then driven in a forward direction for a short distance which causes the fork elements to spread outwardly due to the tracking of the castors 90 and 92. Reversing the assembly with the castors still rotated in the outward direction forces the fork elements back into the parallel position.

Alternatively, locking the castors into an inward pointing direction and driving the assembly in reverse, will rotate the fork elements from the parallel position into the splayed position, and it follows that with the castors in this position, forward movement of the assembly will return the splayed fork elements to the parallel position.

FIG. 8 illustrates an electronic block diagram of drive and control circuitry suitable to give effect to operation of the assembly illustrated in FIG. 6.

In a preferred form, a handheld controller unit 111 incorporates discrete push buttons for the following operations: up, down, forward, back, left, right and an emergency stop.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an alternative wheel structure which can be utilized with the assembly of FIG. 6.

In this arrangement, separate control units 104, 105 and 106 are provided for the left wheel motor assembly (not shown) and the right wheel motor assembly 21 and for the lifter.

In preferred forms, the battery units may be switched 107 between series and parallel operation. In parallel operation, they drive the wheel assembly. In series operation, they drive the linear actuator of the lifter.

In this arrangement, ferrules 101 are mounted for rotation about the periphery 102 of a wheel 103. The rotation of the ferrules is about an axis in the plane of the wheel thereby assisting realignment of the wheel on various surfaces including dense carpet and the like.

With reference to FIG. 10, there is illustrated a further preferred embodiment wherein like components are numbered as for the embodiment shown in FIG. 6.

In this instance, the drive wheels 52, 54 are replaced with the alternative wheel structure of FIG. 9. In addition, in a preferred form the lead wheels 90, 92 are also replaced with the alternative wheel structure of FIG. 9. In preferred forms, the wheels are aligned such that their axes of rotation are normally aligned at 45 degrees to the longitudinal axis 98 of the assembly 10. In a more particular preferred form their axes intersect at a common intersection point 110.

In a further particular preferred form the drive wheels 52,54 are affixed to the trailing ends of the legs 82,84. In this instance the drive motors may be located within the legs 82,84.

Similarly the lead wheels 90, 92 may be driven wheels with their respective drive motors preferably located within the legs 82,84.

In a further particular form the wheels may be mounted in pairs at the leading and trailing edges of the legs 82,84.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The construction of the disability aid assembly of the invention allows for simple and rapid disassembly of the components for packing into suitable luggage for transport. Thus as shown in FIG. 7 the components of the assembly 10 when disassembled, comprise the base structure 14, the lifting arm 12 folded as shown, the two fork elements 82 and 84 and the hanger 48.

Careful choice of materials and components such as the electric motors, gear trains, wheels and castors etc. allows for an all up weight of around 20 Kg making the device ideal for travel and use in hotel rooms for example.

Claims

1. A mobility aid assembly for lifting and lowering a user comprising an articulated lifting arm releasably mounted to a base structure, wherein:

a first portion of the lifting arm is operable between a lowered position and a raised position by a linear actuator;
a first end of the linear actuator is configured to remain attached and pivotally connected to the first portion of the lifting arm; and,
a second end of the linear actuator is provided with a mounting boss, the mounting boss is provided with a first connecting element for releasable connection to a complementary second connecting element provided on a second, fixed upright portion of the lifting arm, the first connecting element comprises a transverse U-shaped slot having parallel sides and the complementary second connecting element comprises a transverse pin, wherein the second end of the linear actuator is positioned to slidingly engage the transverse U-shaped slot with the transverse pin to slidingly releasably mount the second end of the linear actuator on the complementary second connecting element so as to avoid injury to the user if the linear actuator moves the first portion of the lifting arm to an excessively lowered position in which the first portion of the lifting arm impinges on the user, and wherein the second end of the linear actuator disengages from the complementary second connecting element when an upward force acting on the first portion of the lifting arm exceeds the combined weight of the first portion of the lifting arm and that of the linear actuator.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the base structure comprises:

a hollow body having outer ends; and
a drive wheel provided at each outer end, each drive wheel being driven by respective electric motor modules located within the hollow body.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein each electric motor is controllable for synchronized rotation of the wheels for forward and rearward movement of the assembly and for contra-rotation of the wheels for rotation of the assembly about a vertical axis.

4. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a forwardly directed fork, the fork comprising two fork elements extending from the base structure, wherein:

each fork element includes an outer end;
each outer end is provided with a swiveling castor; and
each castor is provided with a locking mechanism for locking the direction of movement of the castor at a desired angle relative to a horizontal centerline of the assembly.

5. The assembly of claim 4 wherein:

each fork element is releasably mounted to the base structure;
each fork element is arranged for rotation about a respective vertical axis at the base structure;
each fork element is rotatable between a first direction parallel to the horizontal centerline of the assembly and a second splayed direction; and
a separation between the outer ends fork elements is greater than a separation of the vertical axes at the base structure.

6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein:

the fork elements move from the first direction parallel to the horizontal centerline to the splayed direction if the castor at each outer end fork element is locked at an outwardly splayed angle relative to a centerline of the respective fork element and the assembly is driven in a forward direction; and
the fork elements return to the first direction when the assembly is driven in a rearward direction with the castors locked in the outwardly splayed angle.

7. A method of avoiding injury to a user of a disability aid assembly if a first articulated portion of a lifting arm of the assembly is lowered by a linear actuator of the assembly to a point at which the first articulated portion is driven into contact with the user by retraction of the linear actuator, the method comprising the steps of:

slidably engaging a transverse U-shaped slot located on a lower end of the linear actuator with a transverse pin located on a second, fixed upright portion of the lifting arm; wherein an outer end of the linear actuator is configured to remain attached and pivotally connected to the first articulated portion of the lifting arm; and
disengaging the lower end of the linear actuator from the second, fixed portion of the lifting arm when a force cannot exceed a combined weight of the articulated portion of the lifting arm and the linear actuator.

8. A mobility aid assembly for lifting and lowering a user comprising an articulated lifting arm releasably mounted to a base structure, wherein:

a first portion of the lifting arm is operable between a lowered position and a raised position by a linear actuator;
a first end of the linear actuator is configured to remain attached and pivotally connected to the first portion of the lifting arm; and,
a second end of the linear actuator is provided with a mounting boss, the mounting boss is provided with a first connecting element for releasable connection to a complementary second connecting element provided on a second, fixed upright portion of the lifting arm, the first connecting element comprises a transverse U-shaped slot having parallel sides and the complementary second connecting element comprises a transverse pin, wherein the second end of the linear actuator is positioned to slidingly engage the transverse U-shaped slot with the transverse pin to slidingly releasably mount the second end of the linear actuator on the complementary second connecting element so as to avoid injury to the user if the linear actuator moves the first portion of the lifting arm to an excessively lowered position in which the first portion of the lifting arm impinges on the user.
Referenced Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
1588573 June 1926 Edmiston
1857031 May 1932 Schaffer
1878785 September 1932 Leavitt
1889925 December 1932 Leininger
2050269 August 1936 Brooks
2339007 January 1944 Gahm
2361102 October 1944 Horne
2404153 July 1946 Wilhelm
2439163 April 1948 Farmer
2585982 February 1952 Wood
2630231 March 1953 Klinge
2650725 September 1953 Hoyer
2663386 December 1953 Fenley
2683882 July 1954 Smith
2809381 October 1957 Colaner, Sr.
2818315 December 1957 Limbach
2821406 January 1958 Hoyer
2903238 September 1959 Flandrick
2975434 March 1961 Butler
2991485 July 1961 Schulte
3104399 September 1963 Dalton
3131404 May 1964 Bowers
3203009 August 1965 Lundberg
3204921 September 1965 Ages
3222029 December 1965 Hildemann
3252704 May 1966 Wilson
3270574 September 1966 Stewart
3304059 February 1967 Siliznoff
3357427 December 1967 Wittke
3374493 March 1968 Herrera
3397883 August 1968 Kiehn
3473174 October 1969 Cool
3596298 August 1971 Durst, Jr.
3677424 July 1972 Anderson
3694829 October 1972 Bakker
3711877 January 1973 Averill
3815163 June 1974 Sullivan
3852835 December 1974 Whitaker
3877421 April 1975 Brown
3882949 May 1975 Anderson
3962737 June 15, 1976 James
4032192 June 28, 1977 Jensen
4092748 June 6, 1978 Ewers
4104748 August 8, 1978 Brisco
4133061 January 9, 1979 Hurd
4144713 March 20, 1979 Clark
4255823 March 17, 1981 Boyer
4305623 December 15, 1981 Seabase
4351562 September 28, 1982 Twitchell
4375840 March 8, 1983 Campbell
4407030 October 4, 1983 Elliott
4443902 April 24, 1984 Baer
4452102 June 5, 1984 Shaffer
4483653 November 20, 1984 Waite
4538853 September 3, 1985 Levenberg
4554691 November 26, 1985 Daugherty
4555121 November 26, 1985 Lockard
4573736 March 4, 1986 Levenberg
4658451 April 21, 1987 Taniguchi
4661035 April 28, 1987 Danielsson
4664584 May 12, 1987 Braun
4680819 July 21, 1987 James
4682377 July 28, 1987 Reich
4690457 September 1, 1987 Poncy
4703523 November 3, 1987 James
4704749 November 10, 1987 Aubert
4712257 December 15, 1987 James
4762257 August 9, 1988 Spillers
5001789 March 26, 1991 Schoenberger
5022106 June 11, 1991 Richards
5033563 July 23, 1991 Brainerd, Jr.
5077844 January 7, 1992 Twitchell
5117516 June 2, 1992 Penner
5142709 September 1, 1992 McGuire
5149310 September 22, 1992 Damino
5162625 November 10, 1992 Comerford
5201377 April 13, 1993 Wilson
5261132 November 16, 1993 Bufford
5309584 May 10, 1994 Parker
5312157 May 17, 1994 Logan, Jr.
5316370 May 31, 1994 Newman
5365621 November 22, 1994 Blain
5411044 May 2, 1995 Andolfi
5459891 October 24, 1995 Reeve
5477574 December 26, 1995 Skoe
5502851 April 2, 1996 Costello
5511256 April 30, 1996 Capaldi
5540539 July 30, 1996 Wolfman
5560054 October 1, 1996 Simon
5630236 May 20, 1997 Messin
5661858 September 2, 1997 House
5672849 September 30, 1997 Foster
5692253 December 2, 1997 Keijser
5758371 June 2, 1998 VanDyke
5784729 July 28, 1998 Dunn
5790995 August 11, 1998 Caden
5815859 October 6, 1998 Lavin
5845348 December 8, 1998 Dunn et al.
5892180 April 6, 1999 Carey
6035462 March 14, 2000 Bennett
6042330 March 28, 2000 Egan
6047418 April 11, 2000 Seide
6067674 May 30, 2000 Moser
6092247 July 25, 2000 Wilson
6119287 September 19, 2000 Phillips
6135131 October 24, 2000 Downing
6203044 March 20, 2001 Conaway
6219862 April 24, 2001 Horcher
6289534 September 18, 2001 Hakamiun
6430761 August 13, 2002 Brandorff
6449783 September 17, 2002 Moser
6507961 January 21, 2003 Ming-Hwa
6640365 November 4, 2003 Chang
6694545 February 24, 2004 Renton
6775858 August 17, 2004 Miller
7021713 April 4, 2006 Kao
7506388 March 24, 2009 Brown
7543876 June 9, 2009 Egan
7611203 November 3, 2009 Roberts
7669255 March 2, 2010 Raney
7690056 April 6, 2010 Moffa
7726014 June 1, 2010 Wada
8060958 November 22, 2011 Hough
8104835 January 31, 2012 Ovre
8123664 February 28, 2012 Lokken
8398356 March 19, 2013 Sandoz
8572811 November 5, 2013 Lautenschlager
8579349 November 12, 2013 Schlangen
8646119 February 11, 2014 Sheridan
8856981 October 14, 2014 Rayess
9358166 June 7, 2016 Ferniany
9597240 March 21, 2017 Hermanson
9945093 April 17, 2018 Belliveau
10426677 October 1, 2019 Ferniany
10470951 November 12, 2019 Kitchin
20010047542 December 6, 2001 Luckenbill
20020002740 January 10, 2002 Schroeter
20020069461 June 13, 2002 Egan
20020138904 October 3, 2002 Wong
20020184760 December 12, 2002 Babin
20030000013 January 2, 2003 Schroeter
20030070227 April 17, 2003 Schroeter
20030137119 July 24, 2003 Razon
20030208844 November 13, 2003 Moffa
20040006819 January 15, 2004 Johansson
20040148699 August 5, 2004 Fernie
20040158920 August 19, 2004 Walling
20040163173 August 26, 2004 Downing
20040177441 September 16, 2004 Ronne
20040232395 November 25, 2004 Brooks
20040232396 November 25, 2004 Ming-Hwa
20050006631 January 13, 2005 Ming-Hwa
20050011003 January 20, 2005 Davis
20050034231 February 17, 2005 Huang
20050097670 May 12, 2005 Hawk
20050102754 May 19, 2005 Barthelt
20050132495 June 23, 2005 Girard
20050173216 August 11, 2005 Meernik
20050189798 September 1, 2005 Strong
20060026755 February 9, 2006 Bain
20060045708 March 2, 2006 Bain
20060045709 March 2, 2006 Bain
20060048294 March 9, 2006 Maguire
20060048297 March 9, 2006 Mills
20080134433 June 12, 2008 Maciejewski
20090094748 April 16, 2009 Long
20090126104 May 21, 2009 Lukasiak
20090144895 June 11, 2009 Bostelman
20090165203 July 2, 2009 Biersteker
20090165204 July 2, 2009 Biersteker
20090249544 October 8, 2009 Palay
20100031439 February 11, 2010 Spidare
20100064431 March 18, 2010 Kawakami
20100107329 May 6, 2010 Nelson
20100125947 May 27, 2010 Manson
20100132114 June 3, 2010 Becker
20100224841 September 9, 2010 Liljedahl
20110016628 January 27, 2011 Masterson, Jr.
20110035058 February 10, 2011 Clough
20110043062 February 24, 2011 Lorenzen
20110083266 April 14, 2011 Herron
20110110715 May 12, 2011 Andreasen
20110138532 June 16, 2011 Lin
20110238217 September 29, 2011 Kume
20110289681 December 1, 2011 Biersteker
20110302711 December 15, 2011 Biersteker
20120023661 February 2, 2012 Ota
20120047648 March 1, 2012 Purwar
20120205401 August 16, 2012 Litten
20120240333 September 27, 2012 Niklasson
20120317715 December 20, 2012 Corriveau
20130111660 May 9, 2013 Wilson
20130160268 June 27, 2013 Parker
20140013499 January 16, 2014 Steinman
20140068855 March 13, 2014 Grow
20140109312 April 24, 2014 Gray
20140182059 July 3, 2014 Jonsson
20140346745 November 27, 2014 Ganel
20150190293 July 9, 2015 Hacikadiroglu
20160228313 August 11, 2016 Rogge
20170281368 October 5, 2017 Gill
20190277395 September 12, 2019 Yoshimura
20190330031 October 31, 2019 Walker
20190343660 November 14, 2019 Gill
Foreign Patent Documents
29823115 March 1999 DE
0555198 August 1993 EP
0695159 March 1997 EP
1269960 January 2003 EP
1300127 April 2003 EP
2277302 October 1994 GB
H10-286290 October 1998 JP
H10286290 October 1998 JP
9001916 March 1990 WO
2004058126 July 2004 WO
2012130930 April 2012 WO
2014075679 May 2014 WO
Other references
  • ProTech Medical, “Jazzy Select Power Chair, Pride Mobility”, Jul. 21, 2009, Video (pp. 1 and 4) (Year: 2009).
  • “Dolphin mobility”; Dolphin Stair Lifts—Supplier of Lifts and Stairlifts in the UK; Mar. 29, 2018; 3 pages; http://www.dolphinlifts.co.uk/?id=pgIz2VXI.
  • “MultiLift550 SystemRoMedic”; 4 pages; www.handicare.com.
  • Examination Report for EPO Application No. 16849941.6-1113, dated Nov. 30, 2021, pp. 1-3.
Patent History
Patent number: 11654067
Type: Grant
Filed: Oct 4, 2016
Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
Patent Publication Number: 20180280220
Assignee: Easy and Light Mobility Pty Ltd (Sydney)
Inventors: Christopher Patrick Harper (NSW), David Charles Thompson (NSW), Arthur David Cooper (NSW), Thomas Maurice Fleming (NSW)
Primary Examiner: David R Hare
Assistant Examiner: Luke Hall
Application Number: 15/765,339
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: Including Specific Structure (e.g., Clamp) Attaching Device To Bed (5/84.1)
International Classification: A61G 7/10 (20060101);